Why CEO Kurt Schlachter stopped practising to accelerate Stringam Law's strategic growth

Western Canadian law firm Stringam Law has had a sustained period of expansion, transforming from a single location to an established network with offices across Alberta and Saskatchewan. With that growth came a strategic shift to a more corporate leadership approach, culminating in Kurt Schlachter's appointment as CEO in 2023.

Unlike many law firm leaders who continue to practise law, Schlachter took on a full-time management role in line with the firm’s plans to do things differently. This has allowed him to focus on expansion and internal culture. The firm now operates out of 15 offices and plans to increase its presence in Western Canada.

Despite the new role, Schlachter has been with the firm for over a decade. “When I started in 2003, we were about roughly eight lawyers and one location,” he notes. Today, Stringam’s footprint covers multiple regional markets, with further growth targeted in underserved areas across the West.

Initially, Stringam’s expansion was organic, sending lawyers to establish offices in new communities, which Schlachter acknowledges was a “tremendous investment of time and effort, and it’s slower.” The firm eventually shifted to a merger-based strategy, working with firms that shared a compatible vision. This approach accelerated the pace of expansion, enabling Stringam to expand its services and build up expertise in each community without the limitations of organic growth. Schlachter says mergers will remain the primary method for Stringam’s growth.

Schlachter’s long-term vision for Stringam extends beyond his leadership, aiming to develop a sustainable firm over the generations. “The short-term vision for the foreseeable future … is Western Canada,” he explains, adding that Stringam is in discussions to open its first British Columbia office. With the addition of new offices, Schlachter aims to grow Stringam’s reach while reinforcing its presence in the north-south corridor through Alberta before potentially expanding further eastward.

As Stringam scales, Schlachter is focused on aligning the firm's growth with its community-centred ethos. His management approach reflects this goal, emphasizing collaboration and engagement across the firm to support employees at all levels. “The focus needs to be on clients and delivery of service,” Schlachter says.

Since shifting from practising law to a full-time management role, Schlachter has concentrated on structuring leadership to support growth. Previously, the firm’s part-time managing partner role faced limitations due to the demands of client work. “Our approach to management was more reactive than proactive,” he recalls. “It's a really tough assignment, and it's difficult to focus on one over the other.” With his dedicated management role, he says the firm can now implement a more cohesive and proactive strategy.

Schlachter’s approach to expansion also prioritizes regions that larger firms typically underserve. “Our focus, deliberately, is not on larger urban centres,” he says. “Not that urban centres aren't in our growth plan, but they're not the immediate priority.” An exception is the firm’s recent decision to open a Calgary office, driven by logistical factors rather than a shift in strategy.

Stringam’s clients range from individuals seeking help with family and real estate matters to small business owners navigating regulatory needs. Schlachter says larger competitors often overlook this client base. “We aren’t ever going to be Big Law,” he says, which tends to concentrate on large multinational clients.

Schlachter emphasizes cultural alignment to sustain the firm’s unique culture through growth. Mergers are evaluated not only for strategic fit but also for compatibility with Stringam’s values. “You will not succeed if you don’t have cultural alignment,” he says. Schlachter believes this approach is essential to maintaining the firm’s client-centred service, which he says is fundamental to the firm’s identity.

Internally, Stringam’s growth has also enabled it to expand training and mentorship resources for staff. Schlachter describes a flexible model that combines formal practice groups with more open, individualized mentorship, creating opportunities for collaboration across geographic distances. “Some people benefit from more structure, whereas others benefit from a more open door,” he says, which requires adaptability.

Beyond the office, Stringam has prioritized community involvement, which Schlachter sees as a core element of the firm’s role in each market it serves. Stringam “looks very deliberately for community partnerships,” he says. Many of the firm’s lawyers are involved in local philanthropic efforts, and Schlachter views this community engagement as part of its commitment to the regions in which it operates. The firm’s emphasis on being “your local lawyers,” Schlachter says, reflects its service model and long-standing commitment to the communities that sustain it.

“We support and signal that we value that, and I think it makes a difference.”

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